“You’ve been here for the whole assembly?” Eve managed to squeak out.

“I’ve been here long enough to hear you freak out, let’s just say that,” Sophie answered, looking Eve up and down the way Brody had in the hallway the morning the list came out. “Of all people, of course it’s you.” Sophie stormed toward her. “You…”

Eve had never been in a fight before. Was Sophie going to slap her? Should she run? Why couldn’t her legs move?

“You think you can get away with this?” Sophie hissed, getting closer and closer.

What was Sophie Kane talking about?

“Oh wow.” Sophie laughed a frightening laugh. Like a supervillain. “You little…”

“I’m … sorry?” Eve didn’t know what she was sorry for, though.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done to my life?” Sophie ran a spastic hand through her hair.

“Me?” Eve’s jaw dropped.

“Yes, you.”

“What are you talking about?”

But before Sophie could answer, they heard the door begin to open.

Eve and Sophie froze, catching each other’s eye.

It was the first time Eve had actually looked Sophie Kane directly in the face. Sophie’s eyes were as dark blue as morning glories, and she was perfectly tan, even in October.

Wait. Was that a fake tan?

Here Eve was, thinking about a girl’s looks again.

“Don’t come in!” Sophie ordered.

As Nessa entered, Sophie scurried toward the back of the room.

Nessa slammed the door shut behind her. “Oh man. You’ve been crying. Look, don’t listen to that lady. She’s got some of the girls talking about their feelings now, so it’s gonna go on all night.” Nessa wrapped an arm around Eve.

Eve felt the tears stirring inside her again. “I had to get out of there.”

“I know,” Nessa comforted her.

A loud sigh came from the chairs.

“Is…,” Nessa said as she separated from Eve, “someone in here?”

Eve nodded in Sophie’s direction.

“Can we put some chairs in front of the door or something?” Sophie complained from where she sat. “Is there a lock? How do we stop the whole frickin’ school from barging in here?”

“What are you doing here?” Nessa turned to Sophie. “Shouldn’t you be with your minions?”

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be talking about your feelings with Principal Yu?” Sophie shot back.

“I’m making sure my best friend is okay!” Nessa pulled Eve in tighter.

“Okay?” Sophie stood up again. She seemed to tower over them, even from far away. “Okay? No one is okay, thanks to her.” She pointed her finger right at Eve as if she were putting a curse on her.

“Me?” Eve took a step toward Sophie.

“Yes, you. Of course you’re okay. You’re the new Thing.” Sophie shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

“What?” Eve’s gut spoke for her.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Snow White,” Sophie Kane roared. “I know you wrote the list yourself. Soon everyone will know.”

Nessa jumped to her defense with “She didn’t—” but Eve surprised herself by cutting Nessa off and speaking all on her own.